Four Freedoms Park Opens on Roosevelt Island

A memorial park that has been 40 years in the making was officially unveiled today.

The Four Freedoms park commemorates the life and leadership of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The 4-acre expanse gets its name from Roosevelt's 1941 State of the Union address where he outlined the four essential human freedoms: Freedom of speech; freedom of worship; freedom from want; and freedom from fear. The treelined park also includes a 1,000 pound bronze bust of the 32nd president.

Mayor Bloomberg was on hand at the ceremony.

"It is my hope that all of those who visit this new park are inspired by the challenge Franklin Delano Roosevelt left us of securing and protecting these four freedoms."

In the 1970's, the city ran out of money and could not complete the project until now.